7/10/07 - Tom DodgeSCYPION FOLLOWS HIS DREAMS AND HIS FATHERS By Tom Dodge www.keeppunching.com 
PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS - Wilford Scypion Jr. has two great legacies in his family tree.On his mother’s side is grandfather L. C. Donatto, the late zydeco legend who was born and raised in Opelousas, LA before moving to Houston at age 18. On the other side is father, Wilford Scypion Sr., who was one of the best middleweight boxers in the 1980s. In February 1983, Scypion Sr beat Frank “The Animal” Fletcher by a twelve round decision to take the USBA’s regional Middleweight title. This victory guaranteed him the opportunity to fight the undisputed world championship against the pound for pound king, Marvelous Marvin Hagler in May 1983. Scypion was stopped in four rounds in his only world title try but now his son is following in his footsteps as a professional boxer to chase that elusive dream of being world champion his father always had. “I learned if I want to be best I have to train,” Wilford said of his father’s influence. “He told me I had to have a lot of heart and courage. He showed me by example without saying a whole lot.” Scypoin Jr. won his professional debut at the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana on a Mickey Daigle, Keeppunching Entertainment promoted show on May 12 and was honored to share the ring with his father and his son after the knockout. “It was wonderful,” he said. “That was one of the greatest moments I have had in my life for my dad to be right there with me.” Scypion Jr. known as “The Scorpion” in the boxing ring and “Poppe” on the zydeco stage, is relying on both talents as he manages a dual career.  Wilford, 28, was introduced to the musical side of his life at the age of seven by his grandfather and the Zydeco Slippers and their own style of Texas Zydeco. “My grandpa and Clifton Chenier were cousins,” Wilford said of the musical heritage of his family. “If you closed your eyes and listened to him, you would think you were listening to Clifton.” To Wilford, his grandfather was a role model, mentor and hero all wrapped up into one person. “He was a great person, period,” he reflected. “He did a lot of things for other people. He was a giving kind of guy. He took a family in and helped them get on their feet. He was also my fishing buddy.” Wilford played the washboard or scrub board for his grandpa’s band until he was 17, when he moved to Port Arthur and sports took over his life and music took a back seat. Wilford returned to the musical stage at 20 when he was a student at McNeese State University and began to play with Sean Ardoin and Zydecool. It was the first time for him to travel overseas with the band including trips to Italy, Brazil and Europe. He also played with Chris Ardoin and Nustep as well as J. Paul and the Zydeco Nubreedz, the R & B Zydeco band which he is a member of now. Wilford has also made appearances with Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers, Step Rideaux and the Zydeco Outlaws as well as Marcus Ardoin and the Zydeco Legends. He Is known by many in the musical industry and is extremely popular with the fans. “Everybody has their own style,” Scypion said describing the bands, “but they are all good. 
“I grew up on the original zydeco but as time changed people changed,” he said. “It went from the old school to the new school. I still love the old school, but right now, I prefer the new school zydeco.”Scypion said the stage is a place where he can relax even with the rigors of playing the scrub board non-stop through the shows. “It is a peace of mind being on stage and being able to perform and sing,” he explained. “It is great to see smiles on people’s faces and know they are enjoying themselves. That makes the band feel good because we are doing something that the fans like. We have fun up there also.” While he began playing with his grandfather’s band at age seven, Wilford fought his first amateur fight at 10. “Playing with my grandpa I could take off because we had two scrub board players,” he said of balancing the two budding careers. “My uncle LC Jr. taught me how to play the scrub board. He is one of the best from his generation.” 
Scypion said the road life has taken him away from his wife Jennifer and two-year old son Wilford III, but all the band members struggle with that part of the business.“We try to balance the music along with our lives,” he said. “Sometimes it gets hectic and sometimes it is good.” Scypion joked that playing the scrub board has helped him as a boxer by “keeping my arms in shape. “If I can play these songs back-to-back without a break and my arms are constantly moving plus I am singing – then when I am in the ring I can keep punching and get that guy out of there.” Scypion said his two careers complement each other and can bring fans into the two different worlds. “Through God’s will when I make it to where I need to be in boxing that will publicize the band and bigger things will happen for the band,” he said. “Everything is a win win at this point,” Scypion concludes. Saturday, July 14, Scypion will be away from the band, fighting at the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana on the “Shootout at Coushatta” card that includes two world title fights. Damian Fuller (28-4-1-13 KO) of Detroit will fight Carlos Gamez (17-5-9 KO) of Sonora, Mexico, for the NBA's lightweight championship. Heath "Lil Rocky" Nichols (5-0, 4 KOs) of Alexandria will fight the 22 fight veteran of Tennessee for the NBA Junior World Lightweight Championship. Scypion will take on Travis Toler in a four-round middleweight bout although Scypion fights as a junior middleweight. Michael El Tortito De Fierro" Martinez (The Iron Bull) of Snyder, Texas will fight journeyman Benji Singleton in a six-round match. Also on the card is Houston’s junior welterweight and hard punching Daniel Garcia. Garcia will be moving from this six rounder to 8 and 10 round fights considering he defeats his opponent Emmanual Sharp from Atlanta, Georgia. Ticket information: For tickets call Ticketmaster at 1-800-488-5252 or the Coushatta box office at 1-800-584-7263. Reserved stadium seating is $40, Bronze (floor seating) is $100, Silver (main floor seating) is $150 and Gold (ring side) is $200. Floor seats will offer FREE BEER to those in this select section. Programs will be offered for autograph sessions with the fighters. For more information or interviews contact: kerry@keeppunching.com DAVID RIVAS, RIVAS WARRIORS BOXING PROMOTIONS @ 318.305.4100 rivaswarriors@aol.com TOM DODGE, KEEPPUNCHING MEDIA @ 337.692.5809 tdodge3@yahoo.com AMBER BURKHOLDER, KEEPPUNCHING MEDIA @ 337.344.1857 MICKEY DAIGLE, VP OF OPERATIONS, KEEPPUNCHING MEDIA mickeydaigle@cox.net 
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